Lidasan seeks rights over ancestral lands; Querubin, Brosas says gov't should help lower cost of goods

Makabayan Coalition’s Amirah Lidasan said on Monday that she would push for protection of rights in ancestral domains and wants a “genuine autonomy” in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). 

“[Ang agenda ko] ay paglaban para sa karapatan sa lupang ninuno at karapatan sa sariling pagpapasya sa lupang ninuno at sa pamamahala sa komunidad. Ire-repeal ang mga batas na nakakapaminsala sa lupang ninuno at rason bakit nawawala ito sa mga katutubo at Moro -  tulad ng Mining Act of 1995, review ng IPRA at manawagan ng mas ma-strengthen ang FPIC (free, prior, and informed consent) sa lupang ninuno; [at] genuine autonomy para sa Bangsamoro region,” Lidasan said in a message to GMA News Online.

(My agenda is to fight for the rights on ancestral domains and rights to self-determination in ancestral lands and community governance. I would also like to repeal laws that are detrimental to ancestral domains and the reason why indigenous people and Moros lose their rights over them. Among these laws are the Mining Act of 1995, the review of IPRA Law, and I would call for the strengthening of the FPIC (free, prior, and informed consent) on ancestral lands. I’m also pushing for genuine autonomy in the Bangsamoro region.) 

Lidasan, a Moro advocate, said that she wants the Bangsamoro government to control the politics and natural resources in the region. 

“Hindi controlled ng Malacanang ang politics ng BARMM, to make sure na kahit may eleksyon ay hindi impose ng Malacanang ang outcome, who would be the leader,” she added.

(Malacanang should not have control over the politics in BARMM, to make sure that it will not impose the outcome during the elections, who would be the leader.) 

“Ikalawa, dapat may karapatan ang Bangsamoro sa natural resources na within its territories, kaso sa BOL tinali siya sa national policies, bukod sa shared rights ay dapat tumutugon sa econ policy ng national government,” Lidasan also said. “Kaya apektado pa rin siya sa mga neoliberal policies like pwedeng pag-arian ng mga foreign corporations ang mga natural resources within the BARMM.” 

(Second, the Bangsamoro should have rights over its natural resources within its territories, but the BOL was tied to national policies. Aside from shared rights, the present policies are in line with the econ policy of the national government. So everything is still influenced by neoliberal policies like foreign corporations can have a stake over natural resources within the BARMM.) 

The Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), which was enacted into law on July 27, 2018, seeks to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with BARMM, which will have an expanded land and water jurisdiction, fiscal autonomy, and increased share in national government resources, among others. 

In March 2023, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority passed the Bangsamoro Electoral Code, which will allow democratic participation in the local and regional elections. It would also open the creation of political parties in the region with representations from women, youth, indigenous people, settler communities, traditional leaders, and the Ulama.

Further, Lidasan said that she is advocating for enriching communities and culture, such as by supporting Lumad schools and preventing discrimination against Madrasah and other IP schools. 

If elected, she also wants to achieve “peace based on justice” to hold violators of human rights accountable.

Meanwhile, senatorial candidate Ariel Querubin expressed concern over the high prices of local produce compared to imported goods. 

Querubin said the government must intervene in lowering production costs and increase farmers’ earnings. 

"[Nakakabahala] rin. Sana matulungan natin na [mapababa ang gastos sa produksyon ng mga pananim at mapataas ang kita ng ating mga magsasaka],” he said following his visit to Nepa Q-Mart in Quezon City. 

(It’s worrisome. I hope we can help in lowering the costs of production of goods and increase the earnings of our farmers.) 

“Dapat maibenta [rin] ng pantay yung ating mga produkto kaysa sa mga imported na yan,” Querubin added.

(Our products should be sold equally with the imported ones.) 

Gabriela Partylist Representative and Makabayan senatorial candidate Arlene Brosas also visited Binan Public Market in Laguna to promote her advocacy for lowering prices of goods, supporting small vendors, and opposing the privatization of public markets. 

Brosas said that she will push for the removal of value added tax and “burdensome” taxes, and will fight against “excessively high” rental fees on vendors. 

Labor law reform

On the other hand, TRABAHO Party-list condemned the alleged surge in killings of trade union leaders. 

“As a party-list advocating for the rights and welfare of Filipino workers, our group would like to emphasize the urgent need for stronger protection mechanisms for labor groups. We also call on the government to continue to take decisive action against these attacks,” the group said in a statement on Monday. 

“In response to the alarming trend of violence against labor leaders, TRABAHO also reiterates its platform of working closely with both government agencies and private sector partners to improve labor conditions,” it added. “Our labor group seeks to strengthen labor policies through legal reforms, increased funding for employment-related government agencies, and the implementation of livelihood and skills training programs.”

Campaigning in a market in Pasig City, TRABAHO nominee Johanne Bautista said the party-list will push for reforms in the labor laws to provide more benefits to employees and laborers, especially low income earners. 

“Yes. Kailangan talaga ng patas na oportunidad, hindi sila napag-iiwanan.Lalo na po kayo kasi kino-consider po namin kayong mga heroes lalo na nung pandemya. Kayo ang rason kung bakit busog ang mga pamilyang Pilipino,” nominee Ninai Chavez seconded.

(It is important to have equal access to opportunities so that low-income earners will not be left behind. Especially workers like you who we regard as our heroes during the pandemic. You are the reason why Filipino families are well-fed.)

Other candidates campaigned in the provinces like former senator Gringo Honasan who pushed for improving health services as he visited Dasamariñas City and Bacoor, Cavite.

Senator Bong Go and TV personality Willie Revillame were also in Bacoor and Dasamariñas, Cavite to court votes.

Barnstorming San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, broadcaster Ben Tulfo said frontliners like barangay tanods should receive just allowances.

On his Facebook account, lawyer-physician Joey Montemayor reposted photos during his campaign in Sorsogon.—Vince Angelo Ferreras/Mariel Celine Serquiña /RF, GMA Integrated News

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